Hibiscus plant named ‘Summer Festival’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hibiscus  cultivar named ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ is disclosed, characterized by fully double deep magenta flowers. Plants are compact and have flowers that will open in cold climates. The new variety is a  Hibiscus , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hibiscus syriacus.

Variety denomination: ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hibiscus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Middenbeemster The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Hibiscus syriacus varieties with double flowers on dwarf plants. The crossing resulting in this new variety was made during 2002.

The seed parent is the unpatented Hibiscus syriacus ‘Russian Violet’, the pollen parent is the proprietary variety ‘Summer Holiday’, filed concurrently (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 15/530,764). The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection during 2005. Selection was made at a research nursery in Middenbeemster, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ was first performed in February 2014 at a commercial nursery in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. Vegetative soft wood cuttings were grafted onto an unnamed, unpatented Hibiscus syriacus rootstock. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus cultivar:

-   -   1. Double, deep magenta flowers     -   2. Flowers will open in cold climates.     -   3. Compact plants.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ are similar to plants of the seed parent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a deep magenta flower, the seed parent         has a deep purple flower.     -   2. The new variety has a double flower, the seed parent variety         has a single flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a deep magenta flower, the pollen parent         has a pink and white colored flower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ can be compared to the variety Hibiscus ‘JWNWOOD4’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,336. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics however, ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are double, flowers of this         comparator are single.     -   2. Plants of the new variety have a very upright habit, plants         of this comparator are more mounded.     -   3. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of this         comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ grown in a 3 liter pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical flowers of ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 8 months old.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Summer Festival’ plants grown in a polyhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. Measurements were taken during late Summer. The plants were 2 years old in 3 gallon containers. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and 5° C. to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus syriacus ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 20 days at approximately 25° C. -   Root description: Fibrous, medium root thickness. Tan/brown in     color, not effectively measured with a color chart. -   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 90 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial shrub. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years old. -   Growth habit: Upright, nearly columnar. -   Pot size of plant described: 3 gallon pot. -   Overall plant shape: Upright, narrow oval. -   Height: 40 cm. -   Plant spread: 38 cm. -   Plant vigor: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Upright and compact. No basal branching.     Very upright plant with branches at acute angles. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 8 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 4 mm. -   Quantity of lateral branches: Average 8. -   Stem:     -   -   Stem shape.—Round.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—Stem: Near RHS Yellow-Green 152B.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Angle of attachment.—Branches very upright, occurring at             acute angles from center of plant. -   Internode length: 4 cm on average.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.         -   Leaf shape.—Ovate, lobed.         -   Average length.—8.7 cm.         -   Average width.—6.7 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Denate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, waxy with prominent veins.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, waxy with prominent             veins.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Mature foliage             under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Palmate. Color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144C. Color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green             144C.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: 8 cm. Diameter: 3 mm. Petiole color             upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Petiole color lower             side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Petiole Texture upper             side: Slightly pubescent. Petiole Texture lower side:             Smooth.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring through Summer continuously. -   Flowering form: Fully double, whorled. -   Flower habit: Solitary, emerging from leaf axils. -   Flower longevity on plant: About 4 days. -   Quantity of flowers per plant: About 50 flowers and buds on a mature     plant in full bloom. -   Flower shape: Overall shape is a half dome. -   Flower aspect: Upright and slightly outward. -   Size:     -   -   Length.—3.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—5.4 cm. -   Flower other characteristics:     -   -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Light, earthy. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Spherical.         -   Length.—Average 1.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average 1.0 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 142B. -   Petal:     -   -   Petal arrangement.—Whorled and a thick central whorl of             petaloids.         -   Number of petals per flower.—5 large outer petals.         -   Fused.—At base.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate.         -   Petal base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire, undulate.         -   Tip shape.—Recuse.         -   Length.—3 cm.         -   Width.—3.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper: Glabrous. Lower: Glabrous.         -   Appearance.—Upper surface matte with glossy base. Lower             surface matte. -   Petal color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 67B. Lower             surface: Near Red-Purple 67B.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 67B. Lower             surface: Near Red-Purple 67B.         -   Fading to.—Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 71B. Lower             surface: Near Red-Purple 71B. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Arrangement.—Thick central whorl of petaloids at the base of             the style.         -   Number of petaloids per flower.—Average 20.         -   Shape.—Irregular orbicular or obovate.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire, undulate.         -   Tip shape.—Recuse.         -   Length.—Average 1.7 cm.         -   Width.—Average range 0.5 to 1.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper: Glabrous. Lower: Glabrous.         -   Appearance.—Upper surface matte with glossy base. Lower             surface matte. -   Petaloid color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 67B. Lower             surface: Near Red-Purple 67B.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 67B. Lower             surface: Near Purple N78B. -   Calyx:     -   -   Shape.—Deltate.         -   Length.—8 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.1 cm. -   Sepal:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate.         -   Number.—Average 4 to 5.         -   Shape.—Deltate.         -   Tip.—Acicular.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—2.1 cm.         -   Width.—4 mm.         -   Texture, upper.—Smooth.         -   Texture, lower.—Smooth, waxy.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Near Green 137C. Under surface Near             Green 137C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—3 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137C.         -   Orientation.—Straight.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Average 16, clustered and implanted in style,             typical of Hibiscus.         -   Filament length.—7 mm.         -   Filament color.—Near Green-White 157D. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Dorsifixed.         -   Length.—2 mm.         -   Color.—Near Green-White 157D.         -   Pollen color.—Near Green-White 157D.         -   Pollen amount.—Moderate. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—6.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 1.7 cm. Color: Near Green-White 157D.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Peltate. Color: Near Green-White 157D. Ovary             color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Hibiscus syriacus have been observed. -   Garden performance: Good tolerance, performs well in humid     conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Low temperature tolerance to at least USDA     zone 4, high temperature tolerance to at least 40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL’ as herein illustrated and described. 